TMSO Special “Beethoven's 9th”（12/25）
Venue: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Venue Info Seat
Kazuhiro KOIZUMI, Conductor
Miho SAKODA, Soprano
Hiroka YAMASHITA, Mezzo-Soprano
Kazuma KUDO, Tenor
Hibiki IKEUCHI, Baritone
New National Theatre Chorus, Chorus
Kazuhiro KOIZUMI (Honorary Conductor for Life)
Kazuhiro Koizumi studied at Tokyo University of the Arts and at Universität der Künste Berlin. After winning the 1st prize at Karajan International Conducting Competition in 1973, he has appeared with Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, among others. Currently, he serves as Honorary Conductor for Life of TMSO, Honorary Music Director for Life of Kyushu Symphony, Honorary Music Director of Nagoya Philharmonic, and Special Guest Conductor of Kanagawa Philharmonic.
Miho SAKODA (Soprano)
Japanese soprano Miho Sakoda has an accurate technique and profound insights into score reading with a vast repertoire ranging from baroque to verismo. She made her stunning debut at the Fujiwara Opera by the Japan Opera Foundation with the title role of “Madama Butterfly” in 2019. Since then, she has developed her career as an operatic diva, and during the 2022/23 season, performed Lucieta in “Il Campiello” (E.Wolf-Ferrari) and Fiordiligi in “Così fan tutte” at the Fujiwara Opera, Flora in “Chopin” (G. Orefice) at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, the title role in “Madama Butterfly” at the Savannah Voice Festival in the United States. Other recent roles include Countess Almaviva in “Le nozze di Figaro”, Mimì in “La Bohème”, Riccardo in “Il trionfo dell’onore” (A.Scarlatti).
She has also appeared as a soloist at prominent concert halls in Tokyo, such as Suntory Hall and performed the 9th Symphony of Beethoven with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Her orchestral repertoire includes the Small Solemn Mass of Rossini, Requiem of Fauré, and Mass in C major of Mozart.
She has also appeared as a soloist at prominent concert halls in Tokyo, such as Suntory Hall and performed the 9th Symphony of Beethoven with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Her orchestral repertoire includes the Small Solemn Mass of Rossini, Requiem of Fauré, and Mass in C major of Mozart.
Hiroka YAMASHITA (Mezzo-Soprano)
Graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts and finished the master's course as top of her class, before completing the doctoral course at the same university. While a student, received the Mai Muto Scholarship and undertook short-term study in Vienna. In 2023, won 1st Prize and the Audience Award in the vocal division of the 92nd Music Competition of Japan, and the Miura Tamaki Special Prize at the 9th Mt. Fuji International Opera Competition of Shizuoka. In April 2024, appeared in the title role in the Fujiwara Opera's 90th anniversary performance of La Cenerentola, captivating the audience with her outstanding technique and expressiveness.
Has been selected to perform as Arato in Toshio Hosokawa's Natasha, a new work commissioned by the New National Theatre, Tokyo, with the world premiere scheduled in August 2025. Is a member of the Japan Vocal Academy.
photo:©深谷義宣auraY2
Has been selected to perform as Arato in Toshio Hosokawa's Natasha, a new work commissioned by the New National Theatre, Tokyo, with the world premiere scheduled in August 2025. Is a member of the Japan Vocal Academy.
photo:©深谷義宣auraY2
Kazuma KUDO (Tenor)
Born in Iwate and completed studies at Tokyo University of the Arts, studying under Kazuho Obara, Tomoya Sasaki, and Taro Ichihara. Has won the Excellence Award at the Ichikawa City Culture Promotion Foundation’s Newcomer Competition, Excellence Award at the Nerima City Debut Concert Audition, 1st Prize at the Kawasaki Vocal Debut Competition, 2nd Place in the Vocal Category at the Music Competition of Japan, 1st Prize and Song Award at the Nichii Seigaku Concorso, and top placing and Audience Award in the Vocal Category at the Tokyo Music Competition. Appeared as tenor soloist at the Tokyu Silvester Concert 2019-2020 performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
Opera roles include Cavaradossi in the Nissay Opera 2019 production of Tosca, Tebaldo in the Nissay Opera 2021 production of I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Ismaele in the Fujisawa Citizen Opera’s production of Nabucco, and Grigoriy in the New National Theater’s production of Boris Godunov.
Opera roles include Cavaradossi in the Nissay Opera 2019 production of Tosca, Tebaldo in the Nissay Opera 2021 production of I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Ismaele in the Fujisawa Citizen Opera’s production of Nabucco, and Grigoriy in the New National Theater’s production of Boris Godunov.
Hibiki IKEUCHI (Baritone)
Completed studies at the Graduate School of Music at the Tokyo University of the Arts with a major in Vocal Music (Opera). Debuted in Don Giovanni at the Nissay Theatre in 2015. Moved to Milan in 2017 and won the International Competition Voci Verdiane in 2018. Won the Riviera Etrusca Competition, G. B. Rubini International Opera Singing Competition and Salvatore Licitra singing competition in 2019. Made his European debut in 2019 as Marcello in La Bohème at the Lirica in Piazza in Orte and Massa Marittima, Italy. Won critical acclaim in the role of Marcello in Nissay Theater's La Bohème in 2021. Won 1st Place and the Audience Award at the Tokyo Music Competition in 2022. Is scheduled to appear as Renato in Un ballo in maschera at the Miyazaki International Music Festival and as Silvio in the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's production of Pagliacci in 2023, as well as in Fauré’s Requiem and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Winner of the Himeji City Annual Art and Culture Prize, Tokitada Sakai Music Award, and Hyogo Prefecture Art Encouragement Award.
photo:©平舘平
photo:©平舘平
New National Theatre Chorus (Chorus)
New National Theatre, Tokyo, opened in October 1997 as the only national theatre for the modern performing arts of opera, ballet, contemporary dance, and play. Meanwhile, New National Theatre Chorus started its career and has played a central role in many opera performances all through the seasons. Their ensemble ability and rich voices have achieved acclaim from co-starred singers, conductors, directors, stage staffs as well as domestic and foreign media.
